[Bruce Meyer]

Originally Posted by Kenth

160°F is 71°C.
Hope you´re not running 20w50 engine oil.

Reading this paper may be an eyeopener:
https://www.widman.biz/uploads/Corvair_oil.pdf

FWIW

I base my actions on years of real world experiences. Not some eggheads paper. The article does not consider bearing clearances. My machinists sets my motors up to the loose side of the specs so these large journal crankshafts will live. I use 20w50 VR1 oil and 160 thermostats. Won a bunch of racing events and my motors seem to like it. I will stick with what works for me.

[burd]

I use a 160°. Works for me. I don’t overheat up at Dreamcruise

[geeteeohguy]

160 in all my Pontiacs for the past 45 years. No problems.

[burd]

160° thermo was part of the Royal Treatment.

[mchell]

160

If I be were driving my car daily in cold climate winters, I might use a 180-195

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by Bruce Meyer

I base my actions on years of real world experiences. Not some eggheads paper. The article does not consider bearing clearances. My machinists sets my motors up to the loose side of the specs so these large journal crankshafts will live. I use 20w50 VR1 oil and 160 thermostats. Won a bunch of racing events and my motors seem to like it. I will stick with what works for me.

Yep, I run 20-50 and have for decades, which has worked perfectly fine. Don't even bother changing viscosity for the winter months up here in Prescott, which by the way gets down into the upper teens at night. Both daily drivers run that viscosity with 160 stats.

What should be taken into consideration when worried about viscosity is the pour ratings. Basically an indication of it's flow abilities at cold temps. Many "good" 20-50 oils today have excellent pour qualities, some are even better than the cheaper 10-30 oils on the market that many people are using. Ponder that for a second.

[grivera]

I use Brad Penn 20W50 in mine. Any idea what other oils with same viscosity have similar pour ratings?

[Formulajones]

Let me see if I can find the chart and I'll post it. There are quite a few that have good pour ratings.

[Formulajones]

Here's an older chart. I'll see if I can find a more current one that has more oils tested. I think specific brand oils should have a chart of their own as well. But this gives an idea of the vastly different pour points, even among the same viscosities. Years ago I would have never thought they would be so different.

https://mcgeerf.tripod.com/americans...coil/id17.html

Will, isn't Brad Penn now Penn Grade? Or is it the other way around? Pretty sure that ranks right up there with other high end oils like Amsoil, Royal Purple, Red Line, Mobile, etc....

[grivera]

Oops - you’re right- I meant Penn Grade but in my head it’s still Brad Penn

Thanks for the link!

[Formulajones]

Originally Posted by grivera

Oops - you’re right- I meant Penn Grade but in my head it’s still Brad Penn

Thanks for the link!

I do the same thing, I can never remember lol

[Kenth]

Originally Posted by grivera

I use Brad Penn 20W50 in mine. Any idea what other oils with same viscosity have similar pour ratings?

Any lubricant company has the specifications on their sites to compare.

https://penngrade1.com/wp-content/up...-Oils-2022.pdf

[roy381]

Is there preferred brand of thermostat?

[Formulabruce]

I used to run a 160, but with the factory top rad support cover I run these. No need for air bleed unless your hose goes down hill off the neck. YES you Can get these still, GM Ran these in S-10's as I recall.
Not sure this will pacify the "boil" the oil folks though LOL.

[Kenth]

Originally Posted by Bruce Meyer

I base my actions on years of real world experiences. Not some eggheads paper. The article does not consider bearing clearances. My machinists sets my motors up to the loose side of the specs so these large journal crankshafts will live. I use 20w50 VR1 oil and 160 thermostats. Won a bunch of racing events and my motors seem to like it. I will stick with what works for me.

Good for you.

Not everyone have an engine built by your machinist, i´m sure he did a good job for your racing engine.
Also, if you haven´t noticed, this is the street section and lots of folks here run with factory clearances and where 20w50 and 160°F thermostat is less desirable.
This is, among other things, what the article is about.

FWIW

[Bruce Meyer]

Originally Posted by Kenth

Good for you.

Not everyone have an engine built by your machinist, i´m sure he did a good job for your racing engine.
Also, if you haven´t noticed, this is the street section and lots of folks here run with factory clearances and where 20w50 and 160°F thermostat is less desirable.
This is, among other things, what the article is about.

FWIW

The car Im talking about is a street car. Pump gas and I drive it at least once a week. I used to have a race car. It had no thermostat.

[72projectbird]

Originally Posted by Bruce Meyer

Not some eggheads paper.

Pfft hahahah

[carbking]

Just answering the OP's question - 195 in Pontiac and both Fords, and everything else I have owned for the last 30 years. No issues. And better fuel economy than most report.

Jon

[tom s]

I can give a tinkers damn what the factory did! I have been running 160 for decades and not changing!FWIW,Tom

[Cardo]

180 with functioning factory air. No problems at all, including sitting in traffic with air on. Recored factory radiator too. Using a high flow thermostat.